SG Crimsons recovered from a winless start to their 50 Over campaign by brushing aside the SG Stars in the first match of the EPS T20 Series played on the 12th of February 2019 at the Indian Association. The SG Stars winning the toss and electing to bat first as Arjun Mutreja and Gonthina Santosh made their way to the middle.
Mutreja looked to pose a threat from the first ball will a crisply driven off drive for four off Zimbabwean paceman Tafara Chingwara. Chingwara then dropped his length and troubled Mutreja on the back foot and finally snared his man 5th ball with a rising delivery finding the opener’s edge to the keeper. Santosh was soon out for a duck, bowled first ball to Surywanshi and a brief cameo from Pakistani Husnain Shah 14 (12) soon came to an end in the 5th over with SG Stars on 54/4. Ugandan medium pacer, Kenneth Waiswa and spinners Vinoth Baskaran, Pramesh Singhavi and Rohan Rangarajan then ran the show with a good show of accurate bowling and heaped the pressure on the SG Stars. Ksithij Shinde however kept the scoreboard going until he was brilliantly caught at long off by Rangarajan for 48 (49). SG Stars finishing the day with 131/9. Kenneth Waiswa the pick of the Crimsons bowlers with 3-26 off 3 overs.
SG Crimsons lost opener and skipper, Karabo Motlhanka for 9 (16) which brought Prasheen Param to the crease to partner Rohan Rangarajan. The pair then structured their chase with great control as Rangarajan played aggressor which was complimented well by Param’s supporting role. Rangarajan smashing 4 sixes in his innings of 56* (52) and Param ending on 38* (35) as the SG Crimsons romped to a 9 wicket win over the SG Stars in just 16.5 overs. Rohan Rangarajan named player of the match for his all-round display with the bat, ball and on field.
The SG Crimsons now finding some wind in their sails after two disappointing performances in their 50 over matches while the SG Stars brought down to earth after starting their 50 over campaign on a high with two massive wins.
The SG Crimsons will play their next T20 match on the 14th of February 2019 as they take on the SG Crescents who play their first T20 match of the series.
